Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump has said the United States is not directly involved in the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, while indicating that Washington could consider intervention if the situation escalates further.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday, Trump clarified the US position amid renewed hostilities in the region, stressing that the United States is currently focused on diplomatic engagement with Saudi Arabia rather than military involvement.
“We’re not involved with that,” Trump said when asked about the fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. However, he added that the US could reassess its position if circumstances change, remarking that Washington may step in “if there’s a problem.”
The President also noted that his administration remains engaged with Saudi Arabia on broader strategic issues, including ongoing discussions surrounding a proposed civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the two countries.
When questioned about whether Saudi Arabia had signalled readiness to join the Abraham Accords as part of those negotiations, Trump said the issue had not been discussed during recent talks.
His latest remarks follow comments made last week in which he reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Abraham Accords remains a key condition for finalising any bilateral civil nuclear partnership. According to Trump, Riyadh should now move forward with normalising relations with Israel because the regional security environment has changed significantly.
He argued that concerns over Iran’s regional influence had previously discouraged several countries from pursuing closer ties with Israel. With Iran’s influence now diminished, Trump said the conditions are more favourable for Saudi Arabia to join the US-backed diplomatic initiative.
Launched in 2020, the Abraham Accords established formal diplomatic and economic relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. The agreement has been viewed by Washington as a cornerstone of its Middle East diplomatic strategy.
Trump expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia would eventually become part of the initiative, describing such a move as important for long-term regional stability and cooperation.
His comments came as security tensions intensified following claims by Yemen’s Houthi movement that it had carried out drone strikes targeting Saudi Arabia’s crude oil transportation infrastructure.
In a statement released through the group’s official Telegram channel, Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said multiple drones were used to attack facilities associated with transporting crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port city of Yanbu.
The Houthis claimed the operation was launched in retaliation for what they described as repeated Saudi drone activities over Yemeni territory. The group also alleged that it had recently shot down a Saudi Bayraktar Akinci drone over Yemen’s Al-Jawf Governorate during what it called a hostile aerial mission.
Video footage circulated by the Houthis purportedly showed the downing of the unmanned aircraft, although independent verification of the claim was not immediately available.
The latest exchange of attacks underscores the fragile security situation in the region, where periodic cross-border strikes continue despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing hostilities.
Analysts say the renewed violence highlights the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure and the continuing challenges facing regional peace initiatives. While the United States has ruled out direct involvement for now, Trump’s remarks suggest Washington is closely monitoring developments and remains prepared to respond should the conflict widen or threaten broader regional stability.